It's a rule of thumb: Like measuring twice before cutting or looking both ways before crossing the street, you should never deploy a version of Windows until the first service pack has been released. That way you can be sure that any showstopper-type bugs have been resolved before committing to the new platform. Better to be late to the stampede, the thinking goes, than to end up face down in a ditch with a bunch of arrows sticking out of your back.

Of course, in the case of Windows 7, Microsoft is hoping that you'll throw caution to the wind and roll it out anyway. And given the lack of drama emanating from the early-adopter camp -- true deal-breaker bugs have been few and far between with Windows 7 -- some IT shops will be tempted to ignore their thumbs for a change and take a chance on the RTM build.